Men’s Qualifier Game #2 - CAN 8, GER 2

Team Canada stretched their one-goal lead to four thanks to dominant play early in the second period and they cruised in the third for an 8-2 victory over Team Germany. Roberto Luongo was not tested often, but was strong in the second half of the second period when Germany brought their most substantial charge. He finished with 21 saves while Thomas Greiss fended off 31 shots from Canada.

Read the full game recap here and enjoy our scouting report below!

ROBERTO LUONGO - First shot of the game was a routine slap shot from center ice shot at 11:30 … Gave up a big left pad rebound on second shot … Finished with four saves in the first period … Strong left pad save 2:15 into second period … Calm tight butterfly save on GOC backhanded chance … Good challenge on STURM chance in the slot … Faced eight shots through game’s first 33 minutes … Timely blocker save after a big push off his post to take away space … Unable to get left pad on left post in time on GOC goal … Made 13 saves through two periods … Bad  rebound on first shot faced in third period … Good original right pad save on 2-on-0 breakaway … Unfortunate rebound off KLINGE gets past him … Great blocking save ability and willingness to let pucks hit him

Roberto Luongo didn’t even face a shot in the first eight minutes of the game, but similar to his start against Norway, he was focused and composed on all of the routine shots. He did not have much of a chance on Marcel Goc’s goal in the second period, nor did he get any luck on Manuel Klinge’s rebound goal in the third.

One of Luongo’s strongest traits in this game was really strong positioning and plenty of patience. On many routine shots, Luongo resorted to closing holes and letting pucks hit his body as opposed to reacting and trying to direct or catch pucks.

Luongo was not challenged for more than a few minutes at a time, but his confidence was high and he didn’t make any costly mistakes in this game.  

THOMAS GREISS - Good first save up high off the chest … Great absorption save on WEBER shot with IGINLA screening him … Juggled the next shot but still controlled it … Strong paddle-down power move on CAN PP chance … Great glove save on BOYLE PP shot against the grain … Big left pad save on Crosby … Faced seven shots on 19 attempts through first eight minutes … Unable to get over to his left post after KEITH’s shot was on the right side … Good focus on CROSBY shot after allowing a goal … Strong glove save on IGINLA turn-around shot … Brilliant poke check on GETZLAF chance in the slot … Finished with 13 saves in the first period … No chance on WEBER blast through the net … Delayed lateral push to his right on IGINLA PP goal … No eye attachment on IGINLA goal … Great lateral push on CROSBY penalty shot … Good save on CROSBY wraparound chance … Energy level was absent in third period … Beat just 1:10 into third period by CROSBY in front of the net  … Weak focus and reaction on NIEDERMAYER breakaway goal … Defeated demeanor  in the waning minutes of the game … Finished with 31 saves on 39 shots 

Thomsa Greiss was strong, sharp and focused in the first five minutes of this game and did a great job of slowing down the game’s pace. Unfortunately, that was the strongest part of his night, as he was only beat once on 14 first period shots.

But Canada came out early in the second period and after putting five hard shots up high on Greiss, including Shea Weber’s  blast that went through the net, they started to chip away at Greiss’ game. It was after Jarome Iginla’s power play goal just 3:41 into the second period and then his second goal of the game just 5:09 later that the lead was stretched to a point of no return.

Although most of Canada’s goals were really strong plays, a few were a result of weak goaltending. On Iginla’s power play goal in the second period, Greiss didn’t display strong eye attachment on the shot, as he was caught waving the glove instead of watching the puck into his glove. On Scott Niedermayer’s breakaway goal, Greiss challenged well but again failed to react in time as the puck beat him five-hole. 

Give credit to Greiss for an outstanding save on Sidney Crosby’s penalty shot, as he moved laterally with extreme power and precision to make a great glove save to keep the score at 4-0. Germany would gain some momentum from that save and score a goal of their own, but that 7-10 minute stretch of energy was not nearly enough to shake Canada’s confidence or make the game close.

With Greiss’ tournament now complete, I’d probably grade his first run with Germany as a C- or something close to that. He was just not as strong as I expected him to be, and he allowed some goals that were very stoppable.